The Adam Hall Story

A rock ’n’ roll success story: over 40 years of Adam Hall.

A rock ’n’ roll success story: over 40 years of Adam Hall.

In 1975, Mr Adam Hall founded Adam Hall Ltd. in the English city of Southend-on-Sea (near London) as a manufacturer of high-quality, robust flight case fittings. Today, more than 40 years later, Adam Hall Group has developed into a global manufacturer and distributer, with comprehensive solutions for the event technology industry. Since then, numerous new brands have been developed and created at the current company location in Neu-Anspach, Hesse, Germany. As an international distribution company and service provider for more than 30 well-known brands, Adam Hall Group has been impressing its customers and business partners with its strong and sustainable concepts for decades. For the innovative and diverse event industry.

1975

Start me up – The ah-ha effect

He really does exist! 1975 – Mr. Adam Hall founded "Adam Hall Ltd." in a small building in Southend-on-Sea, near London, England.

Music in the veins –quite German with British roots

He enjoys the opportunity to provide people in Germany with professional event technology and flight case fittings from England, which at the time was a leading market.

1984

Modern IT is standard – eBusiness at Adam Hall

Adam Hall drew on the digital support of a Nixdorf Comet Top computer at a very early stage – long before the Internet, ERP or even CRM were standard.

1986

Cultural understanding - Asian procurement expertise

In order to guarantee quality, competitiveness and to foster relationships with our factories and supplier network, Adam Hall founded its own "Procurement office" in Taiwan and China in 1986.

1989

Adam Hall DNA - continuity and reliability

Markus Jahnel has known David Kirby since 1983 as he also comes from Oberlauken, where Adam Hall GmbH was founded. Having started out working there as a helper, he has been on board since almost the very start and has watched and helped Adam Hall expand. After completing his high school diploma, an apprenticeship to become a publisher and military service, Markus Jahnel first joined the Adam Hall sales team in 1989. In the following years he put his heart and soul into expanding the entire product range and sales department.

1990

Bigger is better – more space was needed

After the initial relocation to Usingen in 1983, Adam Hall GmbH then acquired bigger premises in Neu-Anspach.

1990

Palmer® Pro & MI – From Germany to the world

Founded in 1980 by Martin Schmitz – it joined the Adam Hall family in 1990. Since starting out more than 35 years ago, Palmer has evolved into an internationally renowned "insider tip" in the music and audio industry. Palmer was the first port of call whenever local musicians needed professional repair work, individual modifications to their instruments and amplifiers or "little helpers", that no other manufacturer sold. Palmer gained valuable experience from these very practice-focused contacts. Musicians and audio technicians value this experience and hold the brand in high regard for its top-quality sound, reliable functionality and precise detail.

1992

Perfect partners: Eminence and Adam Hall

In 1966, Bob Gault established Eminence, now the world’s largest speaker manufacturer. Adam Hall is also the perfect European distribution partner.

1993

Ready to rock – Germany becomes the headquarters

After 13 years, David Kirby took over the English Ltd. and turned the German branch in Neu-Anspach into the company headquarters. 1998 – Company acquired bigger premises again.

1997

DEFENDER® cable protectors – Industry and event standard

Originally used to protect electricity cables and to avoid people tripping over at rock concerts, Defender® cable protection systems have now become standard for several applications in industrial, commercial and public areas. Defender® products, which are designed and manufactured in Germany, are patented worldwide and made from especially robust, recyclable TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane).

1998

Digital early starter – adamhall.com goes online

Gone were the days when the catalogue was the only form of presentation Adam Hall launched its Adam Hall B2B online shop in 1998 – one of the first companies in the Rock ‘n‘ Roll-influenced market to do so. It was a real novelty for a manufacturer and the wholesale sector. The website fulfilled all the wishes of our merchants and flight case makers, and allowed us to reach a wider audience and made searching easier.

2004

LD Systems® - Pro Audio in motion

Made in Germany, listened to worldwide! Within a decade, LD Systems® became a major pro audio brand with an extensive range of product lines. The expert LD engineering team and highly motivated personnel are continuously engaged in creating advanced, state-of-the-art audio equipment that provides superior sonic performance and exceptional value. The LD Systems CURV 500® series, launched in 2015 – quickly won a range of prestigious innovation and design awards.

2006

New Dynamik

Whilst studying economic law, Alexander Pietschmann already established two start-ups in the events sector. After starting at the Adam Hall Group in 2006, he assumed responsibility for the development of the marketing and IT department. Over the following years, and with great passion and commitment, he took over more and more strategic responsibility for the entire company development.

2008

Central working – Adam Hall merges all European activities

Relocation to Daimlerstraße. The new Adam Hall GmbH European logistics centre was completed. Having an area of approx. 20,000 m², it comprises a warehouse of 6,500 m² plus 1,000 m² for the value added services, 2,500 m² across 3 floors for administration, and a showroom.

2010

AUDAC® – Synergy-rich sales partnership

Together with the Belgian audio brand AUDAC, Adam Hall started offering selected customers a wider portfolio of professional installation products such as digital switch matrixes, zone amplifiers and subtle installation speakers. Adam Hall became the exclusive distributor for Germany and Austria and the sales partner for selected APAC countries.

2011

CAMEO® Light – always on the move

Within a few years, Cameo® became an important brand for professional lighting equipment. Our portfolio currently includes innovative LED lighting products and accessories for a wide variety of applications – from small clubs and architecture projects to complex rigs at large events.

2012

Expansion into Eastern Europe

The first international showroom opens. The showroom at Kluczbork, which lies between Wrocław and Krakow, immediately enabled specialist merchants from Eastern Europe to experience the entire range of Adam Hall products.

A life's work is safe - next generation takes over

After 33 years at the top, David Kirby passed on the baton as part of the succession plan. Markus Jahnel and Alexander Pietschmann became the new managing directors of the Adam Hall Group and acquired stakes in the company as part of an MBO. David Kirby has remained Executive Chairman of the company.

2014

Adam Hall works with the Rolling Stones®

The “World’s Greatest Rock ’n’ Roll Band of All Time”, The Rolling Stones, collaborated with Adam Hall and released a very limited-edition cable line. It didn't just bear the band's name, it also perfectly transmitted the band's high standards to the needs of every musician.

2014

Rocking all over the world - Adam Hall goes international

Adam Hall GmbH expands into Asia. Since Adam Hall Asia Pte Ltd was founded in Singapore, the company has put further focus on the Asian market.

2015

Closer to the customer – Our showrooms multiply

Adam Hall celebrates the successful opening of two showrooms in Singapore and Barcelona. Here, the visitor is treated to a sales area of up to 1,000 sq. m displaying the whole world of Adam Hall and its brands.

Gravity® stands- Highly attractive

Following two years of intense development work with users and top designers, the result was a sophisticated core range of musicians' stands and accessories. The Gravity® brand uses multiple innovations, such as a customizable tag concept and a consistent focus on design, to challenge the often outdated image of accessories. The microphone stands have already won the internationally renowned Red Dot and IF Award in 2016.

2016

Many brands – one identity

Adam Hall has now started presenting itself as the Adam Hall Group as part of an internationalization plan. This new focus is accompanied by a complete relaunch of the B2B web shop, the implementation of a Corporate Group website and a newly designed international trade fair concept.

2017

Investment in the future – New horizons

By 2017/18, a new, fully automated warehouse will be ready, as well as an optimized quality assurance and value-added service department, and a separate Adam Hall Experience Center.

David Kirby, originally from England, started out as a professional musician touring in Germany in the mid 70’s. Playing bass, he also took charge of fixing and upgrading the equipment as well as managing the band. After five years of touring, the band broke up and David partnered with Adam Hall in England to sell fittings for flight cases and parts for speaker systems in Germany. His company expanded quickly to now also successfully manufacture and distribute pro audio and lighting products. David’s early days on tour with his band shaped his sense on what musicians really need and Adam Hall Group continues this philosophy today.

Alexander Pietschmann is CEO of Adam Hall Group. His dad Tilo, a professional musician, has been working for the company as a salesman since 1989. Alex joined the company in 2006 after studying business and law. During his student years, he had organized club parties and opened a music club in Frankfurt to fund his studies. Building on this background, he took over the marketing of Adam Hall. In the following years the company grew and in 2013, Alexander Pietschmann became partners with David Kirby, Executive Chairman, and Markus Jahnel, COO of Adam Hall Group.

Markus Jahnel, COO of Adam Hall Group, started out working for the company when he was 15 years old. After 30 years working closely with David Kirby, he is now a partner since 2013 overseeing the day-to-day operations of the business. Markus talks about the early days of product development at the company and his experiences at trade shows.